Bathroom Studio, Sawbridgeworth

A lovely sunny day so I nipped off the motorway to enjoy the scenic approach to Bishops Stortford, taking in Sawbridgeworth on the way. Here I found Bathroom Studio and Davic Furniture in the picturesque Maltings, an ancient yellow brick building converted into an array of small business units.
   Bathroom Studio had a neat blue on white sign above a pretty white painted porch, with steps leading up from the car park and newly planted tubs of flowers. "I'll leave you to have a look round but give me a shout if you need me," said Trevor. Despite fitting into a warren of small rooms the showroom was well laid out with room size displays and a separate shower gallery. Brands included Villeroy & Boch and Hansgrohe. The tiling was perfect in each display and there was new carpet on the floor. However dead flies featured in one of the baths and the carpet was in need of a good vacuum to remove a dusting of sawdust.
   Trevor explained that, although there had been a bathroom showroom on the site for 18 years, Bathroom Studio took over in 2010 and he is still in the process of updating all the displays (hence the sawdust). He suggested a site visit, which would allow him to create a 3D design for my bathroom. Trevor was friendly but, call me old-fashioned, I like salesmen to stand up when I'm talking to them. Trevor stayed firmly in his chair while I stood awkwardly in front of him.

Service: 3. Showroom: 3. Score 6/10
Clean up and stand up

Davic, Sawbridgeworth

In sharp contrast to Trevor at Bathroom Studio, Steve at Davic joined me when I entered the showroom and stayed with me as I wandered round. He pointed out different door finishes, opened kitchen units to demonstrate storage solutions and generally gave me a relaxed yet detailed presentation on everything Davic sells and its customer service.
   Davic buys in doors, but the workshop underneath the extensive showroom produces made to measure carcases for kitchens, bedrooms or home office furniture. "Our kitchens tend to be between £12,000 or £20,000," said Steve, "it really depends on the worktops and appliances you choose. I suggest you put together a wish list including everything you want and then, if you find you are over budget, I can look at ways to reduce the cost. It's much easier to do it that way than add on bits later."
   Although I was there to look at kitchens Steve showed me the displays of bedroom furniture and home office too, pointing out how the units could be designed to fit under the eves and demonstrating smooth running sliding doors with coloured glass fascias. "If you have sons we can do the doors in football colours," explained Steve. "Your girls might prefer the pink."

Service: 4. Showroom: 3. Score 7/10
Steve's enthusiasm for the product made this an enjoyable visit

Hunters Brook, London Road

Hunters Brook was the best bathroom retailer I have visited in a long time and this is why:
1) Despite being tucked away at the back of a business park a distinctive logo and signs at the entrance to the park and at appropriate junctions made this showroom very easy to find.
2) The showroom had a distinct personality, with smart contemporary displays enhanced by thoughtful props, good lighting and perfect tiles.
3) Howard gave me just enough time to wander round on my own before getting up from his desk by the door to join me.
4) Howard asked enough questions to establish what I was after and made useful suggestions, pointing out items on display I might like. He also asked about who the bathroom would be for and, when he realised we had similar aged children, chatted about the joys/trials of teenage daughters thereby cementing the customer/salesman relationship
5) Finally, Howard showed me CAD images of bathrooms he was working on and sat me down to look at a selection of photographs of extremely professional completed projects on his computer screen

Service: 5. Showroom: 4. Score 9/10
Text book

The Kitchen Studio, Rhodes Avenue

This was a small showroom on a residential road sporting a bright orange and grey sign. (Incidentally, I tried to call the showroom several times in advance of my visit to check opening times but the phone just rang and rang. This did not leave a good first impression so I would suggest the company invest in an answer machine.) Despite bijou proportions there were sufficient small-scale displays to see what was on offer including both traditional and contemporary designs from Chippendale and Second Nature. Towards the back of the showroom a wall of door samples illustrated alternative options.
   Design consultant Lee was in the showroom when I popped in. He told me about the different brands plus the choice of worktops and appliances available. However this information was all rattled off at such break-neck speed over a loud Radio 1 backing track that I had to concentrate hard to keep up. And as Lee barely paused for breath it was impossible to throw in the odd question or explain my specific requirements. I did learn that Chippendale kitchens are flat pack and carry a 15 year guarantee, if I was after something a bit more tailor made I should consider Second Nature, that a quartz top would work out at roughly the same cost as granite and that Lee could source appliances from the major brands.

Service: 3. Showroom: 3. Score 6/10
Lee, slow down and turn off the radio

In-toto, Hadham Road

With its double doors thrown open to entice customers inside, this bright sunny showroom made an excellent first impression with its gleaming plate glass windows and glossy displays. Andy immediately explained that he was in the process of updating the displays hence the disarray, but other than one missing plinth I thought everything looked splendid. Drawn to a new beige/grey display with gloss doors Andy suggested I might also like to consider the alternative matt beige door which he explained worked particularly well with a gloss walnut door. As I had already explained that I was moving to the area from Kent, Andy suggested I visit the Canterbury showroom (with partner Gary he owns that franchise too) "it's a bigger showroom than here and we have this exact combination on display," he said.
   We finished with a wander round the displays and Andy took the opportunity to point out a handle-less kitchen and open units to show the sturdy internal storage features. He also extolled the virtues of the Neff and Miele appliances on display and explained the In-toto concept. "If you are going to buy a kitchen, even if it is not from me, buy German," he said.

Service 4. Showroom: 4. Score 8/10
A confident, professional pitch

Coopers, Bridge Street

Coopers bills itself as a 'family run home and garden store' and it certainly seems to sell everything for both indoors and out including - plants and seeds, cookware, armchairs, ironing boards, DIY tools etc etc. I made my way past a rack of coloured teapots and bright plastic watering cans to stairs that took me up to the kitchen showroom where even Tina Turner's boisterous talent failed to fill the void. The showroom takes up most of the first floor with Sheraton kitchens arranged down one wall and Pronorm down the other. A selection of Daval bedrooms were fitted across the end wall and, just visible across an expanse of carpet tiles, two leather sofas faced a wide screen TV at the far end. This unimaginative layout left a vast empty central space which, if filled with 100 or so bustling customers might work, but as there was only me I felt like I had been dumped down in the middle of an empty football pitch.
   Richard Knight however was excellent, explaining the merits of the two kitchen brands, demonstrating an induction hob, outlining the special features on the Neff and Miele appliances, all very professional and extremely knowledgeable.As I left, clutching a selection of brochures and Richard's business card, he said, "We don't give you a heavy sell here, we don't want to rush you into anything. But you will find that we know what we are talking about and that we will create a kitchen that works for you."

Service 4. Showroom: 3. Score 7/10
Excellent service but the showroom needs a re-think

WINNER'S PROFILE: Hunter's Brook

Howard Rutty founded Hunters Brook eight years ago. Howard runs the sales office, his business partner Paul is project manager and Howard's wife and daughter handle the admin. Originally based in Harlow, Hunters Brook moved to larger premises in Bishops Stortford three years ago where Howard's background in fashion and furniture retail were able to shine. "I enjoyed creating the showroom. For us, less is more. We wanted the products to look good and remove customer confusion. My wife detests the TK Maxx style of shopping where you have to hunt for what you want."
   So how would Howard describe his ethos? "We listen to customer requirements and then we like to be a little bit challenging in terms of design without taking them out of their comfort zone. Each project is carefully managed and we have excellent fitters."